Just Add Ink 52 - Just add a sketch

Hello there,

Hope you all had a good week. I’m wrapping mine up with a half day today as we have some family coming to visit, my Mum and Dad, as you can imagine the kids are very excited about their grandparents visiting even though they only saw them about 3 weeks ago. (Smile – Don’t you just love how excited they get about everything - it makes living so joyful!).

Ok onto the new Just Add Ink challenge – this week we have a sketch for you. Here it is.

From the very beginning something about this sketch said “bag or pocket” to me. But I ignored it for quite a while only converting my card to a pocket card literally as I was sticking it all together! I also dug through my retired DSP stash and pulled out some lovely old bright springy type paper. So here it is.

With the insert pulled out (urk - sorry about the colour tones in this one)


I started by flipping the sketch upside down and then since I had settled on using some of the Petals and Paisleys DSP I started with a Pretty in Pink base (originally cut as a horizontal card – I just chopped off the back when I converted it to a pocket), layered that with some Tempting Turquoise. Layered some DSP at the top, and stamped matching flowers on the bottom. I used a Martha Stewart border punch to create the top of the pocket and used my Top Note die, to cut more DSP that was added to the bottom. To embellish that I added a die cut felt flower and some Pretty in Pink wide grosgrain ribbon. Having decided to make the card into a pocket I needed an insert for a message, so I cut some more DSP and Whisper White with the Top Note die, SNAILed them together and folded it in half. That slipped into the pocket and even echoes the border and bottom top note curves – magic!!

My Miss almost Six (we are on a countdown at the moment – every morning it’s how days till my birthday Mum!) thought this was pretty good (smile again) so it’s another card I can add to my birthday party stash!

Thanks for visiting,

Kim

Recipe: All SU! unless otherwise noted

Stamps: Polka Dot and Petals (R), Short and Sweet

Cardstock: Pretty in Pink, Tempting Turquoise, Whisper White

Ink: Regal Rose, Fresh Snow (PaperTrey Inc)

Accessories: Petals and Paisleys DSP, Top Note die, Border punch (Martha Stewart), Corner Rounder punch, Word Window punch, Felt, Ice Rhinestone, Filigree brad, Sticky Strip, Double sided tape (X Press), SNAIL adhesive

Blushing

Hi all,

Well this post marks a milestone, wait for it…..it is the very first time that I have ever used Blush Blossom cardstock. It has always been one of those neglected colours, left waiting forlornly for me to pull a sheet out of its plastic sleeve. But this week was the week to face my cardstock demons as I decided to combine challenges again. A lovely sketch this week from Makeesha Byl and a colour challenge (which of course included Blush Blossom) from the Just Add Ink team.

I struggled initially to come up with an idea for this card, I actually wanted to make a birthday card for my Mum, and while I did end up making a birthday card I’m not sure that is where it will go.

I started with a Blush Blossom base, stamped that with Polka Dots in Cameo Coral. The next layer was Cameo Coral, scalloped at the top, with some piercing detail, I also added some crimped Kraft to the base of that layer. The main panel is Blush Blossom layered on Close to Cocoa. I pierced around the Blush panel, then using post it notes masked the piercing off and rolled the Happy Happy Birthday wheel across the bottom in Cameo Coral. I added a little strip of crimped Kraft below that. Next I stamped the cupcake from Party Hearty in Cocoa on Kraft, and in Cameo Coral on Blush Blossom. I cut the Cameo top out and mounted it on dimensionals above the Kraft one. The cupcake was SNAILed down in the middle after stamping three candles, inked up using Cocoa and Cameo markers. Two way glue and a coat of Dazzling diamonds finish off the cupcake. The last touch was some Kraft taffeta ribbon, I added Cameo coloured dots using an R24 Copic marker, then tied it in a bow adding a pinkish button threaded with a sliver of Kraft cardstock that I curled the ends of. The inside was finished off simply to match.

Hope you like, thanks for visiting.

Kim

Recipe: All SU! Unless otherwise noted
Stamps: Party Hearty, Happy Happy Birthday, Polka Dots
Cardstock: Blush Blossom, Cameo Coral, Close to Cocoa, Kraft
Ink: Cameo Coral, Close to Cocoa
Accessories: Scallop Edge punch, Mat pack and piercing tool, Crimper, Kraft Taffeta ribbon, Copic marker, Pink button (local craft store), Two way Glue, Dazzling Diamonds, Dimensionals, Sticky Strip, Double sided tape, SNAIL adhesive.

Cupcake anyone?

Hi everyone,

Sorry for the lack of post last week – I wish I could say I had been laying in the sun relaxing – which I wasn’t and I would only have gotten sunburnt if I had –so it’s just as well;) Since Makeesha Byl extended her last challenge deadline I decided to concentrate on the cards I was making for an upcoming workshop. The hostess, an old friend from my Miss 5’s playgroup asked for cards for tween boys, which I have interpreted as about 10ish to 14 may’be? I finally got some designs worked out but not before a comment on my first effort from my DH along the lines of “for a boy? – you’ve got to be joking!”

Today’s card is not for a tween boy! Since I’m still pressed for time I decided to try and combine two Aussie based challenges. First a sketch challenge from Makeesha Byl and a colour challenge from the Just Add Ink ladies. Details for both are below.

The bold colours weren’t too scary as I have been using a lot of Pink Passion plus Turquoise or Green Galore for my daughters age group already – although adding the Saffron in took some thought. The inclusion of Pink Passion in the colour palette definitely meant I was heading for a girl card. To get some inspiration I flicked through my stamp folder (I photocopy the labels sheets for all my stamps before I mount them and put them in a little ring binder – a fantastic idea I picked up a few years ago from Tracy Harp) and found the perfect stamp – and here’s the result.

I started with a Pink Passion base, layered that with Tempting Turquoise and then Whisper White that I had stamped with Polka Dots in Pink Passion. (I wanted to balance all the strong colours with lots of white). The central panel features a paper pieced cupcake, with a So Saffron button and hot pink rhinestone as its finishing touch – oh and glitter of course on all the little dots on the pink cupcake top. Some hot pink taffeta ribbon tied in a knot and the sentiment stamped in Turquoise finish off the panel. Like the base it was matted on Turquoise and Pink Passion. Some more texture and bling are added to the card with a horizontal border of Turquoise layered with scalloped and crimped Green Galore and then a lovely band of glitter. Up in the top right are two punched Saffron flowers finished off with large pink rhinestones.

The inside was just finished off simply to match.

Hope you like it – thanks for visiting,

Kim

Recipe: All SU unless otherwise noted
Stamps: A Little Bit of Birthday Cheer, Polka Dots, Baby Button Bits (PaperTrey Inc)
Cardstock: Pink Passion, Tempting Turquoise, Whisper White, Green Galore
Ink: Basic Black, Tempting Turquoise, Pink Passion
Accessories: DSP – Kaleidoscope, Petals and Paisley (R), from Petal Party scrap kit, Button Latte, Spring Bouquet (R) and Scallop Edge punches, pink rhinestones (Kaiser), pink taffeta ribbon from local craft shop, crimper, Tombow multi, Stickey Strip, Two way Glue Pen, Double sided tape, SNAIL adhesive, Dimensionals, Dazzling Diamonds.

Sometimes you're lucky

Hi there all,

Well I’m back on deck after being away for our annual family holiday, the kids loved the beach and playgrounds – its just so much fun to watch them play with the water, learning and experimenting. The other bonus is that they were just plain tuckered out after busy days in the sun and slept well !! I enjoyed it, but I can’t say it was relaxing, may’be that will come when they are older but then again may’be not – still it was great to get away and great to be back.

I didn’t want to miss anymore of Makeesha’s weekly challenges but I a string of nasty headaches and being flat out busy (you know the time of year – daughter’s dance concert, Christmas baking, working, an SU workshop and all that plus the normal shopping cooking (cleaning) of everyday life – whewww. I just couldn’t summon up the energy but as luck would have it I made a birthday card last year for a little girl, but changed my mind and then made another. The main reason being I thought she would be too young at the time to recognise her own name – however this year I think she will. So I had a card (that was still happy with a year one ) and it is a pretty darn good match as one to post for Makeesha challenge. See her inspiration pic below.

Ok here is the card.

I’m a bit rusty on the details but I’ll give it my best go. I started with a Regal Rose base, then a layered of Very Vanilla, I scalloped the bottom of that with the slit punch (I think – the scallop punch had only just been realized in Aus then I didn’t have it yet). I stamped the upper half using Polka Dot and Petals. At the bottom then I added a layer of Certainly Celery, rolled my Scribble wheel over in CC ink, then coloured selected spots in with a white gel pen. To finish off the bottom I added stamped and punched flowers using Spring Bouquet punch , the flowers were fixed in place with Regal Rose and Certainly Celery brads. Up the top I have added the birthday girl’s name, stamped in regal Rose using the big deal alphabet, then overstamped in versamark, added Heat and Stick, heated and then added Dazzling Diamonds fixed in place using dimensionals. The division between top and bottom is covered by some Regal Rose and Certainly Celery ribbon.

Hope you like, thanks for visiting.

Kim

Recipe: All SU unless noted otherwise
Stamps: Big Deal alphabet, Polka Dots and Petals (R) , Looks like Spring (R), Scribble J.wheel
Cardstock: Regal Rose, Very Vanilla, Certainly Celery
Ink: Regal Rose, Certainly Celery, Versamark
Accessories: Spring Bouquet punch (R), Slit punch, White gel pen, Heat and stick powder, Dazzling Diamonds, Regal Rose and Certainly Celery brads, Certainly Celery narrow grosgrain ribbon, Regal Rose ribbon ( Flirty Ribbon Originals - I think (R)), dimensionals, SNAIL adhesive.

My First DT card - Its a Girl

Hi there everyone,

yep the title says it all. I was delighted (translation excited jumping up and down accompanied by squeals of joy) to recieve an email from the lovely Makeesha to ask me to be the first guest design team member for her weekly challenges. I will be on the DT for the month of June so I will look forward to saying hello each week and hopefully hearing from you all as well!

Now I have discovered that I find colour challenges the hardest to work with - imagine how daunting it was to start off my tenure with a colour challenge. This is the colour combo that Makeesha picked this week.

I did do a fair bit of fiddling and in the end made two cards. But the one I have decided to select as my DT card is right below.

A family friend is expecting a baby in the next few weeks - so my start point was a baby card, given the involvement of Pink Passion - one for a girl. Overall its actually a fairly simple card. My main colour decision to was when possible to space the Celery between the Pink Passion and Pumpkin. I found it gave better contrast for both of them. So starting with a Pink Passion layer, I added a Celery one on top then a Whisper White that was stamped with Polka Dots to match the dotty Pumpkin DSP at the bottom. The main element is the Pink Passion elephant, dressed up with a Celery brad for its eye, glittery Pumpkin ear and a Pumpkin felt Fusion flower. To dress up the Celery ribbon below I also added a row of Pumpkin felt fusion flowers with alternating pink and Celery brads. In the process I discovered that Tombow and Crystal effects just did not want to stick the flowers down but some glue dots and sticky strip later I got that problem solved. Lots of scallops, some piercing and "Its a girl' for the flower stalk and it was all done. The inside was also just finished off simply.

Ok having seen my official card here is the second one I made for the colour challenge.

My starting point for this one was to use the most recent (at the time) Mojo Monday sketch and also to use the same layering as I did for the first. The points to note here are that I used the stripy Background sampler stamp to make the Pink Passion strips on the bottom, then using markers added in Pumpkin and Celery stripes. I got the colour effect on the largest flower, by colouring the centre with a Pumkpin marker and the edge with a Pink Passion one, then used a blender pen to pull the Pumkpin out into the Pink, I did go over after with an aquapainter and a little ink from the ink pads lids to deepen the colour. The top flower was simply rock and rolled and Dazzling Diamonds was added to the Celery flower. The opened up pink brads was accidental really, I opened one up flat just so I could see if the Pink brads were right for the card - size wise and looked and went - hmmm Ok I might keep it this way.

I want to finish today by saying a big thank you to very good friend (and now upline) Sam who kindly lent me Polka Dot, Background Sampler and Petals Pizzazz.

You can check out the brilliant creations from the other DT members here.

Karen

Amy

Renee

Cindy

Kirsty

"Its a Girl"
Recipe: All SU unless otherwise noted
Stamps: Wild About You, So Many Sayings, Polka Dot
CardStock: Pink Passion, Certainly Celery, Pumpkin Pie and Whisper White
Ink: Pink Passion, Certainly Celery, Pumpkin Pie
Accessories: Scallop Edge punch, Wide and narrow Certainly Celery grosgrain ribbon, Pumpkin Pie felt Fusion flowers, 2-way Glue pen, Dazzling Diamonds, Certainly Cerlery brads, Pink Bo Bunny brads, Mat pack and piercing tool, Glue Dots, Sticky Strip, Double sided tape, SNAIL adhesive, Dimensionals

"Thank You"
Recipe: All SU unless otherwise noted
Stamps: Petals Pizzazz, Background Sampler, Simple Wishes (retired hostess set)
CardStock: Pink Passion, Certainly Celery, and Whisper White
Ink: Pink Passion, Certainly Celery, Pumpkin Pie
Accessories: Certainly Celery DSP, Cuttlebug Distressed Stripes folder, Ice Rhinestone brad, large pink Bo Bunny brads, wide Certainly Celery grosgrain ribbon, 2-way Glue pen, Dazzling Diamonds, Dimensionals, Double sided tape, SNAIL adhesive, blender pen

Summer time

Hi there,

this week Makeesha has an inspiration challenge - the idea being to use the theme and colours in the photo to inspire your card. The photo, to me, just said summer days, and the colours were such typical Aussie summer colours, bright and bleached by the sun at the same time. Since I liked the Mojo Monday 73 sketch so much this week I decided to use that again. Just click the MM73 link to see the sketch or scroll down to my previous blog entry. Anyway here is the inspiration pic.



I just got the Spring Break papers last week and when I looked through the pack there was this lovely flowery Hawaii shirt pattern in Soft Sky, that just said summer, beach, surf board to me. So thats what happened.



I used the ute from Loads of Love and drew a freehand surf board to go in the back, then cut that out from some So Saffron DSP and sponged and coloured some of it in with Rose Red. The colour palette ended up being Whisper white, Taken with Teal, Soft Sky, So Saffron with a few touches of Rose Red. Since the theme was summer I thought the Happy Holidays from Rivetting was a good match. I can just imagine driving off in that ute - OK may'be 10 years ago. These days the back would be full of travel cots and nappies not surf boards. Some crystal effects, assorted brads and ribbon - I love that Teal velvety ribbon - its so lucious to touch (sadly retired though) finish it off.


The inside is finished off simply with some stamped flowers that match the DSP (from Polka Dots and Petals and Eastern Blooms). Sorry the photos are a bit dull - still overcast here.

Recipe:
Stamps: Loads of love, Rivetting, Polka Dots and Petals, Eastern Blooms
Card Stock: Taken with Teal, So Saffron, Soft Sky, Whisper White
Ink: Taken with Teal, So Saffron, Rose Red, Soft Sky
Accessories: Crystal effects (on surf board, car windows and soft sky circle under rhinestone), Dimensionals, Snail adhesive, So Saffron brads, Ice Rhinestone, Teal ribbon from Flirty pack, Apricot Appeal narrow grosgrain ribbon - but this so looks like So Saffron, Soft Sky double stitched ribbon, 1 3/8 , 1 1/4 and 1/4 circle punches, Spiral punch, So Saffron DSP, clear Sakura glaze pen to outline the little cut out flowers.